The American Civil War has been the inspiration for countless books, movies, and documentaries. Although practically every angle of the conflict has been explored, the majority tend to focus on a specific battle, a famous leader, or offer a general overview of the war. In contrast, the author has narrowed his focus to concentrate on his great grandfather's experiences, giving readers a glimpse of what the war might have been like for a common soldier.
William Pitt Putnam Lucas was seventeen during the summer of 1863, a time of victory for the Union soldiers at Gettysburg and a time of worry for Lucas' fellow Ohio residents as John Hunt Morgan made his famous raid through the region. Possibly caught up in the excitement of events, Lucas lied about his age and, despite the objection of his family, followed in the footsteps of his older brothers and enlisted. After serving for a time with the 86th Ohio Infantry until it disbanded, he then joined the Sixth Ohio Volunteer Calvary, traveling with it and fighting in its various campaigns throughout the remainder of the war.
Always mindful of historical accuracy, the author is careful to describe events that probably happened to his ancestor based on exhaustive research rather than simply inventing "facts" about his life that might seem plausible. Much of the strength of Miller's narrative also comes from his liberal use of firsthand accounts from those who would have been fighting during the same skirmishes or experiencing the same kinds of situations as Lucas probably did, a move that adds even more realism to his work. Additionally, the author demonstrates the historian's gift for detail and description, a trait that makes this well-researched account an excellent addition to Civil War literature.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review